# 2015 in New Zealand

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The following lists events that happened during 2015 in New Zealand.

## Population
### National

Estimated populations as at 30 June.
* New Zealand total – 4,596,700
* North Island – 3,519,800
* South Island – 1,076,300

### Main urban areas

Estimated populations as at 30 June.
* Auckland – 1,454,300
* Blenheim – 30,600
* Christchurch – 381,800
* Dunedin – 117,400
* Gisborne – 35,700
* Hamilton – 224,000
* Invercargill – 50,300
* Kapiti – 41,300
* Napier-Hastings – 129,700
* Nelson – 64,800
* New Plymouth – 56,300
* Palmerston North – 83,500
* Rotorua – 56,800
* Tauranga – 130,800
* Wellington – 398,300
* Whanganui – 39,400
* Whangārei – 55,400

## Incumbents
### Regal and vice-regal

* Head of State – Elizabeth II
* Governor-General – Jerry Mateparae
* Elizabeth II
* Jerry Mateparae

### Government

2015 is the first full year of the 51st Parliament, which first sat on 21 October 2014.
The Fifth National Government, first elected in 2008, continues.
* Speaker of the House – David Carter
* Prime Minister – John Key
* Deputy Prime Minister – Bill English
* Leader of the House – Gerry Brownlee
* Minister of Finance – Bill English
* Minister of Foreign Affairs – Murray McCully
* David Carter
* John Key
* Bill English
* Gerry Brownlee
* Murray McCully

### Other party leaders

* Labour – Andrew Little
* Green – Russel Norman until 30 May then James Shaw, and Metiria Turei
* New Zealand First – Winston Peters
* Māori Party – Te Ururoa Flavell and Marama Fox
* ACT New Zealand – David Seymour
* United Future – Peter Dunne
* Andrew Little
* Russel Norman
* James Shaw
* Metiria Turei
* Winston Peters
* Te Ururoa Flavell
* Marama Fox
* David Seymour
* Peter Dunne

### Judiciary

* Chief Justice – Sian Elias
* President of the Court of Appeal – Ellen France
* Chief High Court judge – Helen Winkelmann, and then Geoffrey Venning from 1 June
* Chief District Court judge – Jan-Marie Doogue
* Sian Elias
* Ellen France
* Helen Winkelmann

### Main centre leaders

* Mayor of Auckland – Len Brown
* Mayor of Tauranga – Stuart Crosby
* Mayor of Hamilton – Julie Hardaker
* Mayor of Wellington – Celia Wade-Brown
* Mayor of Christchurch – Lianne Dalziel
* Mayor of Dunedin – Dave Cull
* Len Brown
* Stuart Crosby
* Julie Hardaker
* Celia Wade-Brown
* Lianne Dalziell
* Dave Cull

## Arts and literature
### Performing arts

Benny Award presented by the Variety Artists Club of New Zealand to Johnny Devlin.

## Events
### January

* 1 January – New Zealand begins its two-year term as a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council, after being elected on the first ballot in the 2014 election.

### February

* 12 February - Sky New Zealand launches its Neon streaming service.
* 14 February – The 2015 Cricket World Cup, jointly hosted between Australia and New Zealand, began in Christchurch with New Zealand winning against Sri Lanka

### March

* 16 March – The remnants of Cyclone Pam move down the east coast of New Zealand causing evacuations, heavy flooding, and power outages.
* 24 March – Netflix launches in New Zealand.
* 28 March – A by-election was held in the Northland electorate to replace MP Mike Sabin of the National Party who resigned on 30 January. The electorate was regarded as a safe National seat, but was won by Winston Peters of New Zealand First.

### April

* 24 April – A magnitude 6.2 earthquake strikes south-east of Saint Arnaud in the Tasman District.

### May

* 31 May – The Christchurch Central Police Station is demolished by implosion following damage from the 2011 Christchurch earthquake.

### June

* 3 June – Heavy rain in the coastal Otago Region causes heavy flooding in South Dunedin, which was exacerbated by a breakdown of the Portobello pumping station.
* 20 June – State of emergencies are declared in Rangitikei District, Whanganui District and South Taranaki District due to flooding.

### September

* A temporary ban on the 2013 book Into the River creates controversy.
* 1 September – The Flag Consideration Panel releases the short list of flag options

### December

* 11 December – Voting closes on the first referendum on the New Zealand flag closes, with the black and blue variant of the Lockwood silver fern flag advancing to the second referendum.

## Holidays and observances

* 6 February – Waitangi Day
* 25 April – Anzac Day
* 27 April – Anzac Day public holiday
* 1 June – Queen's Birthday Monday
* 26 October – Labour Day
* 25 December – Christmas Day

## Sport
### Awards

* Halberg Awards
** Supreme Award – All Blacks (rugby)
** Sportsman – Kane Williamson (cricket)
** Sportswoman – Lydia Ko (golf)
** Team – All Blacks (rugby)
** Disabled Sportsperson – Sophie Pascoe (swimming)
** Coach – Steve Hansen (rugby)
** Emerging Talent – Eliza McCartney (athletics)

### Cricket

* New Zealand, in conjunction with Australia, will host the 2015 Cricket World Cup between 14 February and 29 March.

### Football

* New Zealand will host the 2015 FIFA U-20 World Cup between 30 May and 20 June.

### Rowing

* New Zealand Secondary School Championships (Maadi Cup)
** Maadi Cup (boys U18 eight) – Hamilton Boys' High School
** Levin 75th Jubilee Cup (girls U18 eight) – St Margaret's College
** Star Trophy (overall points) – Hamilton Boys' High School

### Shooting

* Ballinger Belt – Ross Geange (Otorohanga)

## Births

* 12 September – Tofane, Thoroughbred racehorse
* 12 October – Verry Elleegant, Thoroughbred racehorse
* 26 October – Self Assured, Standardbred racehorse
* 3 November – Kolding, Thoroughbred racehorse

## Deaths
### January

* 10 January – John Angus, children's rights advocate (born 1948)
* 11 January
** Doriemus, thoroughbred racehorse (foaled 1990)
** Chic Littlewood, television personality and actor (born 1930)
* 13 January – Tony Ciprian, television sports news presenter and producer (born 1932)
* 15 January – Harvey Sweetman, air force pilot (born 1921)
* 16 January – Sir Ian Athfield, architect (born 1940)
* 20 January – Lawrence Hogben, World War II naval officer, meteorologist (born 1916)
* 29 January – Len Wyatt, cricketer (born 1919)

### February

* 1 February – Alby Duckmanton, cricket player and administrator (born 1933)
* 9 February – Apirana Mahuika, Ngāti Porou leader (born 1934)
* 11 February – Tama Huata, Māori performing arts leader (born 1950)
* 12 February – Christopher Horton, businessman (born 1938)
* 13 February – Kete Ioane, Cook Islands politician (born 1950)
* 16 February
** Robin Duff, teacher, education leader, gay rights activist (born 1947)
** Celia Lashlie, prison officer, social justice advocate (born 1953)
* 18 February – Doug Armstrong, cricketer, television sports presenter, politician (born 1931)
* 24 February
** Dame Thea Muldoon, wife of Sir Robert Muldoon (born 1927)
** Tony Small, diplomat (born 1930)

### March

* 3 March –
** Kerry Ashby, rower (born 1928)
** Peter Yaxley, rugby league player, referee and administrator (born 1928)
* 7 March – Brian Sutton-Smith, writer and play theorist (born 1924)
* 11 March – Keith Roberts, rugby league player (born 1932)
* 12 March – Alan Wilkinson, association footballer (born 1924)
* 14 March – Graham Avery, track cyclist (born 1929)
* 18 March – Sir Don Rowlands, rower and businessman (born 1926)
* 20 March – Sir Russell Pettigrew, businessman, sports administrator (born 1920)
* 24 March
** Bryan Bartley, engineer (born 1928)
** Peter Stichbury, potter (born 1924)
* 27 March – Neville Denton, rugby league player (born 1934)
* 29 March – Mike Watt, sport shooter (born 1936)
* 31 March – Trevor Laurence, field hockey player (born 1952)

### April

* 1 April – Sir John Ingram, engineer and businessman (born 1924)
* 2 April
** Mick Brown, jurist (born 1937)
** Bill Lean, Paralympic athlete (born 1941)
* 5 April – Steve Rickard, professional wrestler (born 1929)
* 10 April
** Desmond Digby, stage designer, children's book illustrator and painter (born 1933)
** Dorothy Jelicich, politician (born 1928)
* 16 April – Ron Bailey, politician (born 1926)
* 18 April – Bill Schultz, rugby league player (born 1938)
* 20 April – Gary Brain, timpanist and orchestral conductor (born 1943)
* 23 April – Frana Cardno, politician (born 1941)

### May

* 2 May – Rex Percy, rugby league player (born 1934)
* 8 May –
** Juan Schwanner, association football player and manager (born 1921)
** Phil Skoglund, lawn bowls player (born 1937)
* 9 May – Buddy Corlett, softball and basketball player (born 1921)
* 10 May – Jack Body, composer (born 1944)
* 19 May – Sir Thomas Gault, jurist (born 1938)
* 21 May – Roland Avery, rugby league referee (born 1927)
* 26 May – John Pinder, comedy producer and festival director (born 1945)
* 29 May – Chris Kohlhase, softball player and coach (born 1967)
* 31 May – Iain Campbell, cricketer (born 1928)

### June

* 5 June
** Jerry Collins, rugby union player (born 1980)
** Te Uruhina McGarvey, Tūhoe kuia (born 1927)
** Lecretia Seales, lawyer and right to die campaigner (born 1973)
* 7 June – Peter Petherick, cricketer (born 1942)
* 9 June – Sir Peter Williams, lawyer and penal reform advocate (born 1934)
* 10 June – Bonecrusher, Thoroughbred racehorse (foaled 1982)
* 13 June – Mike Shrimpton, cricket player and coach (born 1940)
* 17 June – John Lasher, rugby league player
* 18 June – Sir Patrick Moore, otolaryngologist (born 1918)
* 20 June – Ian Bradley, naval officer and politician (born 1937)
* 22 June – Norm Berryman, rugby union player (born 1973)
* 25 June – Ross Hynds, Paralympic athlete (born 1947)
* 27 June – Eric Dunn, cricketer (born 1929)

### July

* 2 July – Sir Ronald Davison, jurist, Chief Justice (1978–89) (born 1920)
* 7 July – Craig Norgate, accountant and business leader (born 1965)
* 13 July
** Sir John Buchanan, scientist and businessman (born 1943)
** Campbell Smith, wood engraver, playwright and poet (born 1925)
* 18 July
** Tim Beaglehole, historian and university administrator (born 1933)
** Lou Gardiner, military officer, Chief of Army (2006–09) (born 1952)
* 20 July – Stuart Jones, cricketer (born 1929)
* 23 July – Doug Rowe, musician and singer (born 1945)
* 27 July – Joan Mattingley, clinical chemist (born 1926)
* 29 July – Sir John Todd, businessman and philanthropist (born 1927)
* 30 July – Jimmy Edwards, rugby league player (born 1926)

### August

* 4 August – Les Munro, World War II pilot, last survivor of Operation Chastise (born 1919)
* 6 August – Geoff Mardon, speedway rider (born 1927)
* 7 August – Trevor Barber, cricketer (born 1925)
* 9 August – Gordon Vette, pilot, TE-901 crash researcher (born 1933)
* 16 August – Jon Craig, architect (born c.1942)
* 17 August – George Gair, politician and diplomat (born 1926)
* 20 August – Paul Kibblewhite, pulp and paper scientist (born 1941)
* 21 August – Colin Beyer, lawyer and businessman (born 1938)
* 28 August – Jan Anderson, plant biologist
* 30 August – John Hotop, rugby union player (born 1929)

### September

* 2 September
** Avinash Deobhakta, lawyer and jurist (born 1936)
** Manos Nathan, ceramicist (born 1948)
* 4 September – Graham Brazier, musician and songwriter (born 1952)
* 6 September – Allen Roberts, cricketer (born 1922)
* 8 September – Robert Wylie, cricketer (born 1948)
* 10 September – Colleen Waata-Urlich, ceramicist (born 1939)
* 13 September – Sir James Belich, politician, Mayor of Wellington (1986–92) (born 1927)
* 15 September – Ian Uttley, rugby union player (born 1941)
* 16 September
** Terry McCavana, association footballer (born 1922)
** Peter Molan, biochemist (born 1943)
** Bill Oliver, historian and poet (born 1925)
* 17 September – Daniel Keighley, music festival promoter and band manager (born 1953)
* 20 September – Dorothy Butler, children's author, bookseller and reading advocate (born 1925)
* 25 September – Zabeel, Thoroughbred racehorse and sire (foaled 1986)
* 30 September – Neil Graham, businessman and philanthropist (born 1943)

### October

* 3 October – William Taylor, children's writer and politician (born 1938)
* 5 October – Michael Dean, television presenter (born 1933)
* 6 October – Frankie Boardman, musician (born c.1933)
* 7 October – Arthur Woods, rugby union player (born 1929)
* 9 October – David Benney, applied mathematician (born 1930)
* 20 October – Sir John Scott, medical researcher (born 1931)
* 29 October – Bruce Gregory, politician (born 1937)
* 31 October – Colin Nicholson, lawyer and jurist (born 1938)

### November

* 1 November – Bill Ballantine, marine biologist (born 1937)
* 10 November – Laurent Vidal, French triathlete who lived half the time in New Zealand (fiancé of Andrea Hewitt) (born 1984)
* 12 November – Peter McLeavey, art dealer (born 1936)
* 13 November – John Gray, Anglican bishop (born 1947)
* 17 November – Donald Brian, cricketer (born 1925)
* 18 November – Jonah Lomu, rugby union player (born 1975)
* 19 November
** Rex Cunningham, rugby league player (born 1924)
** John Hall-Jones, historian, otolaryngologist and outdoorsman (born 1927)
* 21 November – Vern Bakalich, rugby league player (born 1929)
* 30 November
** Jack Fagan, rugby league player (born 1933)
** David Simmons, ethnologist and historian (born 1930)

### December

* 3 December – Michael Wilson, cricketer (born 1940)
* 7 December – Betty Bourke, health administrator (born 1924)
* 10 December – Maurice Graham, rugby union player (born 1931)
* 12 December – Jon Gadsby, writer and comedian (born 1953)
* 19 December – Stephen Jelicich, architect and historian (born 1923)
* 23 December – Bill Subritzky, property developer and evangelist (born 1925)